The lips of pious Christians at this Advent time of year
Are prone to complain that all sacredness is lost
Christmas without Christ is what they seem to fear
The Baby from that manger has readily been tossed

Mind you there still remains some attachment sentimental
Christmas carols, ‘holy’ cards, and the school nativity
And Christingle shows a glimmer of light transcendental
But it’s the secular not the sacred that centres much activity

Of course for some this loss of its religious heart
Robs Christmas of all its meaning, even all its worth
The love radiating from the stable no longer does impart
And few can accept that mysterious virgin birth

However attempts to turn the clock back are really rather futile
And after all the vast majority of the modern populace
Do not have any such inhibitions, no such petty scruples
They are pleased to welcome ‘Christmastide’ and duly it embrace

So our fellow citizens en masse will not hesitate to revel
Melt down their plastic in a mighty hedonistic spree
Dance happily with the world, the flesh and the devil
And unashamedly express their joy and untold glee

But the question is – is excess all that bad?
Is there not a time when we all should celebrate
And despite these days of darkness a need to still feel glad
And from our burdened shoulders shed that heavy weight

Let the ancient power of the Story still speak to hearts and minds
Let’s not deny the right of those who uphold sacred tradition
But the festival of winter belongs to all humankind
And a little excess in living still a welcome intermission

Like this:

No challenge too great for the building trade
No problem will make these workers afraid
They dig down to make sure of a firm foundation
The earth that they move could re-shape the nation

Then they build up many rows of bricks upon brick
With a hod and a trowel they perform this neat trick
They leave spaces for windows and holes for the doors
And layer-by-layer they construct each new floor

Inside this stark shell they fit out each room
And soon we discern the shape of a home
If of their achievements we still require proof
Just take a glance at the shiny new roof

For their unstinting efforts, we these workers salute
Their dedication and skill is not in dispute
The future homeowner will derive so much pleasure
Thanks to those builders for their willing endeavor
Ken Fisher

For those who take some time to muse on issues which perplex
The interplay twixt science and faith can seem to be complex
And those who claim that science is the only truthful view
The path of daily faith and trust they often may eschew

But others take a different stance and feel no contradiction
Science may indeed reveal clear fact, faith nonetheless no fiction
The saints of old and humble hearts in every generation
Have trusted in the God of Love who cares for every nation

As time progressed the quest of science each year grew ever stronger
Ignorance about our world acceptable no longer
The mighty powers that drive the earth needed understanding
Magnetic force and gravity proved to be all commanding

Science challenged faith which claimed to offer certain hope
The distant stars were soon brought near when came the telescope
No longer true the long held view of our earth at the centre
God maker of the cosmos our great divine inventor

Church leaders closing ranks, to these ‘heresies’ objected
Such challenge to their power must clearly be rejected
But some were ready for new truth and kept an open mind
Unlike the bigots, and those whose eyes continued to be blind

Science of the earth – the study of geology
Contradicted early views in realms of theology
Biblical, five thousand years to tell the whole world’s history
Science claims 5 billion years – surely this a mystery

The story of creation from Adam and his Eve
A tale like this too hard for some to easily believe
Darwin’s view that all today – the result of evolution
Sparked in his time in men of science a thinking revolution

More recently the science of modern genetics
Caused theologians debate not any less frenetic
Theories are advanced without the least apology
In social science, in medicine, and every kind of ‘ology’

So under the weight of such onslaught and hanging by a rope
What can religion offer us that still provides us hope?
The answer I believe is not to be overwhelmed
The realm of faith if given thought we honestly defend

First of all, as those who trust we must not from truth hide
Rejecting science and casting all its gains aside
Our modern lives, our comfort and our health
Science gave us much of this, per’aps even more, our wealth

But the life we have, the freedom we inherit
From the example of our Master’s life we learn the Christian merit
Of course our faith is not without emotion
Love for each other surely shown because of faith’s devotion

The realm of faith speaks to the soul and to those deepest needs
For meaning, beauty, love and care for which our heart can bleed
And while we rejoice in all of science’s gains
Faith can for us bring hope when nothing else remains

So is it true that faith and science must then forever vie
No concord to be found no matter how they try?
We live our lives with science and faith each helping to sustain
A life to live, a love to show, that all around may gain

Of course we would not willingly the boon of science reject
Thus losing all that has been gained including its respect
But for the trusting heart then faith provides the Way,
The truth, the life, and new meaning to each day

Like this:

Can we find God’s presence in our living every day?
Hear His voice to guide, to challenge, and console
Some will claim God knows each person by their name
They also claim knowledge of the One who surely saves

Our awareness of God revealed to us in holy scripture
Provides mere knowledge of His worldly mission
Despite the testimony of Christ’s ministry here on earth
Can we ever grasp the divine nature of his Father, God?

We conclude the Godhead is beyond all definition
No adequate words found to justify description
All attempts at speculation eventually abandoned
God still remains beyond, yet in the midst of all that is.

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No crystal ball that will us show
The way ahead remains obscure
What charms before us to allure
Or is the future filled with woe?
Places where we dare not go

So far the fates have been quite kind
On pleasant pastures we’ve reclined
Our journey’s not been fraught with trials
Not forcing frowns, but rather smiles
And the passing of the years
Brought comfort rather than much fear

Somehow our luck might soon run out
New Challenges could bring about
A change of fortune or of fate
Some burden felt in all its weight
Bring lowering of our cheerful mood
Our joy quite suddenly subdued

But why to such change and chance
Must we always look askance?
From what cause our hearts doth quickly leap
As if the wolf has scattered sheep
Emotions no longer in control
Startled by some evil troll